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Great Bay Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Newmarket, New Hampshire
United States
75F / 24C
Sunny
Total Time = 2h 03m 56s
Overall Rank = 592/1204
Age Group = M45-49
Age Group Rank = 40/71
Pre-race routine:

Had the drink for breakfast at 7. Had nothing else before the race, which was a mistake since the start time was 11. I also didn't drink enough water before the race throughout the morning.
Event warmup:

Normal ballistic stretching and a easy 5-10 minute run to warm up.
Run
  • 2h 03m 56s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 28s  min/mile
Comments:

Where to start. The plan was going great through 10k, but my pre-race nutrition problems caught up to me. I had to stop for "the runs" at 7.1, and then didn't replenish lost fluids. About a mile and a half later it started to unravel. Up to 8.5 miles (other than the stop) I was pretty much on plan. Just a tad slower than plan but not bad at all given the day and the course. Maybe that was too fast given the hills and the heat, but I don't think so given pretty normal heart rates and perceived exertion.

Then between 8.5 and 9.5 I really slowed, and from 9.5 to the end it was a real struggle. Which is weird because that's when the course eases and the main hills end. Some walking, some slow running for those last 3 1/2 miles. And I stopped again at about mile 10 for another required pit stop. I never thought a half marathon could be a survival event!

What would you do differently?:

Eat something closer to the event. If I ever start to have issues, eat sooner during the event and let it settle in. Take the hit on time while the nutrition sorts itself out.
Post race
Warm down:

Food, walking, some light stretching, trading lies with everyone else.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The pre-race nutrition problems were probably the big factor. I don't think this was a training issue today, but a prep and execution issue. I'd done several long runs of this distance at faster pace with no problems and with plenty left in the tank at the end. Respect the heat and have something in my stomach to absorb all the water I needed to stay cool. I guess with what I had eaten and how much I needed to drink early in the race, there was no surprise I had problems since the water had nowhere else to go.

Event comments:

Good venue, huge field for the course I thought. It took a while to settle out. Challenging course with many hills in the second half.




Last updated: 2009-12-18 12:00 AM
Running
02:03:56 | 13.1 miles | 09m 28s  min/mile
Age Group: 40/71
Overall: 592/1204
Performance: Below average
8:32 8:31 8:23 8:20 8:20 8:27 8:44 (2:55 stop) 8:38 9:00 9:10 (2:45 stop) 9:35 11:27 9:12 1:55
Course: Relatively hilly after a downhill/flat start. Finish with a great crowd, but most of the run is in isolation.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Below average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? No
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2010-04-12 11:54 AM

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NH
Subject: Great Bay Half Marathon


2010-04-12 12:41 PM
in reply to: #2785462

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Master
1736
100050010010025
Midcoast Maine
Subject: RE: Great Bay Half Marathon
You finished! Remember - your goal for this race was to focus on running this winter - and you did....I (personally) would be THRILLED with this as my finish time. Yesterday was windy, which is always challenging. And now you have data points for nutrition...it's all good!
2010-04-12 1:19 PM
in reply to: #2785462

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Expert
694
500100252525
WA
Subject: RE: Great Bay Half Marathon
Great job on the race!  I know you aren't really happy with your time, but finishing a half is quite an achievement, remember that!  Sorry to hear about you having the runs...bummer!  At least you learned a lot about your body and your pre-race nutrition.  Look at is as another building block.
2010-04-12 8:04 PM
in reply to: #2785462

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Veteran
526
50025
Richmond
Subject: RE: Great Bay Half Marathon

Congrats on completing your half mary goal and toughing it out after bonking! 

2010-04-13 6:14 AM
in reply to: #2785462

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Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Great Bay Half Marathon

Eating nothing past 7 was for sure a mistake. I would have suggested normal breakfast at 7 and then small pre-race food around 9. Late starts are pretty rough. Otherwise great run. Can you post the mile splits on the group?

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